17.ijoes Sunil (84 90)

SP Publications
International Journal Of English and Studies (IJOES)

An International Peer-Reviewed Journal ; Volume-3, Issue-12, 2021
www.ijoes.in ISSN: 2581-8333; Impact Factor: 5.421(SJIF)
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Major Themes in Chetan Bhagat's ‘The 3

Mistakes of My Life ‘and ‘2 States’
_________________________________________
Dr. Sunil Gomaji Chaudhari, Associate Professor, N H College Bramhapuri, Dist Chandrapur, Maharashtra
Gondwana University Gadchiroli
__________________________________________________________________________________________
ABSTRACT do at IIT (2004), One Night @ the Call Center
Today, the name of Chetan Bhagat has spread like never (2005), The 3 Mistakes of My Life (2008), 2 States
before in the history of Indian writing in English. He has
been acclaimed as one of the best-selling novelists of the (2009), Revolution 2020 (2011), Half Girlfriend
Indian fiction. He has written about modern Indian youths, (2014), One Indian Girl (2016), The Girl In Room
Indian society, and realism in his novels. He says that novels 105 (2018), One Arranged Murder (2020) and 400
are entertainment tools through which one can express his Days (2021) and three non-fictions, What Young
views and opinions about society and the youth. In the
modern India human behavior changed into lust, greed,
India Wants (2012), Making India Awesome (2015)
hypocrisy, and hatred and these are the major themes of and India Positive : New Essays and Selected
Bhagat’s novels. His novels are incomplete without realistic Columns (2019). All these books have best-seller
touch. The background in which Chetan Bhagat has written since their release and some bollywood films like 3
novels is predominantly of the society in the post idiots, Hello, Kai Po Che, 2 States and Half
globalization era. His novels are based on day-to-day
happenings in the Indian society so ultimately he has written Girlfriend took inspiration from these novels. Chetan
the problems of Indian society. He has handled the modern Bhagat is seen more as a youth icon than just an
situation in proper manner. One cannot deny the possibility author. This IIT and IIM-A graduate is making India
of family conflicts in which Bhagat has described. His read like never before.
characters easily get involved in friendship and love and
suffer a lot. He takes upon the sensitive issues which concern
to the society in his novels ranging from romantic love story The 3 Mistakes of My Life is the most
to a shocking condition of the Indian multiculturalism. celebrated novel that has brought name and fame to
Chetan Bhagat describes here about the national integrity, Chetan Bhagat as a writer of high stature. In this
Indian education and political system. This paper aims to novel, the major themes are national integration and
study the different themes given in the novels of Chetan
Bhagat in the novels viz, The 3 Mistakes of My Life and 2 ambition of today’s youths. But it also has sub-
States. themes such as hopes and aspiration, failure and
frustration, young generation’s intense desire for
sex, the family conflict, patriotism, the religious-
Keywords: National integrity, Communal harmony, Inter
politics, bad condition of government schools,
caste marriage, religious conflict, Godhara riot religion, business mind of Gujarati. All the major
and minor events are discussed and described
through the character of Govind Patel. In the novel,
Chetan Bhagat uses the new form to express his
political and religious views. In India, still these
Introduction things have greater importance. Bhagat highlights
Chetan Bhagat is an Indian author, the contemporary events happening in India. The
columnist, and speaker. He is the author of ten earthquake in 2001 destructed most of the parts of
blockbuster novels, Five Point Someone-What not to Gujarat state. Incident of the Godhara riot happened
in 2002 where many Muslims were killed. The
ISSN: 2581-8333 Copyright © 2021 SP Publications Page 84
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
family conflict at Govind’s house and his strong respect you more if you
desire to start a business are presented in the have a business than if you
opening pages. Govind Patel lives with his mother are in service. The rest of
as his father abandons them and goes to live with his the country dreams about a
second wife. His mother has to look after the family. cushy jobs that gives a
To support his mother, he starts maths tuition classes steady salary and provides
and motivates his friends, Ishaan and Omi for a stability. In Ahmedabad,
business. Govind is a witness to the earthquake of service is for weak.
2001, which kills thousands of people in Gujarat. (3MML, 12)
These friends book a shop at shopping mall before
the earthquake, which shatters Govind’s hope of Unacceptable love is also one of the major
becoming a great businessperson. He says: themes in the novel and it is depicted through the
characters of Govind and Vidya. Ishaan forces
Two years of scrimping and Govind to take the maths tuition of his younger
saving, twenty years of sister, Vidya, who prepares for medical entrance
dreams- all wiped away in exam. Love marriages in India are still unaccepted.
twenty seconds. The Vidya attracts towards Govind and forces him for
‘Navrangpura Mall’s’ neon friendship. Govind cannot imagine that friendship
sign, once placed at the top will change into love. In addition, one day on her
of the six floor building, birthday he makes his life’s second mistake by
now licked the ground. May sleeping with his best friend’s sister. He gets
be this was God’s way of extremely involved in her love and thinks of her
saying something- that we only. He instead of thinking about his business sends
shouldn’t have this malls. her messages. Ishaan stops talking to Govind when
(3MML, 108) he comes to know latter’s love affair with his sister.
He does not talk to him for three years and denies
Govind and his friends start a shop at the his proposal of marriage with Vidya. Therefore,
premises of Swamibhakti temple where they sell after getting frustrated, Govind tries to commit
cricket materials. Govind wants to increase the suicide by popping sleeping pills. On the other hand,
income by opening a new shop in the middle of the Vidya is a modern girl who does not want to restrain
city. He says, “I don’t want this short-sighted her in four walls of the house. She says, “I want to
mentality. I will open a store in a mall and by next get out of Ahmedabad. But mom and dad won’t let
year have one more store. If you don’t grow in me”. She with the help of Govind goes to purchase
business, you stagnate”. Govind represents a real books at the bookstores and enjoys ice cream at
Gujarati who is not satisfied with small income. He restaurant. She wants to enjoy each moment of her
encourages his friends by saying, “We have a long life. She becomes very happy when she attains
way to go. Three thousand a month is nothing. And eighteen years of age.
Ish doesn’t let me keep notebook and pencils …”.
He tells the Gujarati’s passion for business: The novelist discusses many themes related
to the development of India and ‘National
There is something about Integration’ is one of them. Chetan Bhagat presents
Gujarati, we love business. this theme through Omi’s character. During the
And Amdabadis love it Godhara riot, Hindus start killing Muslims to take
more than anything else. revenge. Bittoo mama’s son Dhiraj is one of the kar
Gujarat is the only state in sevaks who are killed at the Godhara station. Bittoo
India where people tend to mama and his party members kill Muslims and burn
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
their houses. Ali, a Muslim boy is with Ishaan at the they were inadvertently
bank building on that night. When Bittoo mama buying into the cause.
attacks Ali, Omi, a strict Hindu comes forward and Sympathy for people
saves Ali’s life by sacrificing his own life. Omi tells fighting for Ayodhya would
Mama, “He is a good boy mama; he didn’t kill your be automatic. And
son. All Muslims are not bad” . sympathy converted well
into votes. (3MML, 117)
The 3 Mistakes of My Life is structured
around the inter-connecting incidents of religion, Through Naseer’s character, Bhagat warns
politics and ambition. It consists of Govind’s Indians “India is a free country. You have right to
passion for business, who wants to earn money as your views. My only advise is Hinduism is a great
much as he can; Ishaan’ interest for cricket for religion, but don’t get extreme”. Chetan Bhagat does
which he leaves his NDA course and keeps himself not want to stretch the debate on religion and to
always busy in watching and playing cricket; Omi’s resolve the conflict between Hindu and Muslim, he,
interest is in religion and he helps Bittoo mama and through the character of Naseer, tells Omi a story of
Parekh-ji’s party. Bittoo mama and Parekh-ji have Chimpanzee how they kiss each other after fighting:
roles in religious politics, organize Chaitavani yatra
to Ayodhya; and Ali’s father’s interest is in Male chimpanzees of the
secularism. All these people try to achieve their same pack fight violently
goals in their life. In addition, in some places they with each other-for food,
clash with each other. All the characters represent females, whatever.
their particular area of interest. However, after the fight,
they go through a strange
Religion dominates Indian politics. Since ritual. They kiss each
the beginning of electorate system in India, religion other, on the lips … the
and caste have been playing major role in the point is this ritual was
winning of any candidate. Most of the parties in created by nature. To make
India call themselves secular but in reality, we see sure the fight gets resolved
the interest of people in the candidate of same caste and the pack stays together.
and community. Chetan Bhagat in the novel In fact, any long-term
describes the dominance of religion in India during relationship requires this.
last decade of twentieth century and first decade of (3MML, 71)
twenty first century. Bittoo mama is a strict follower
of Hinduism and he is ready to give his life for Bhagat tries to give historic touch to the
religion. He organizes camps and takes people to novel by describing the earthquake (2001) and the
Ayodhya, God Ram’s land. He follows Parekh-ji, a Godhara riot (2002). Govind books a shop at a mall
Hindu leader. Parekh-ji shows his sympathy for by giving advance money and decides to move there
earthquake affected people by distributing grains in the month of February. The horrible earthquake
and food. To get voting, Parekh-ji suggests Bittoo comes on the republic day and shatters the hope of
mama to bring soil from Ayodhya and distribute it to Govind of becoming a big businessman. Bittoo
each and every Hindu house in Ahmedabad. Parekh- mama is interested in politics. He wants to get
ji’s religious politics is disclosed when he says: noticed by high authority by doing extra work of
sending kar sevaks to Ayodhya. He arranges
No one would say no to a Chaitavani yatra to Ayodhya, Ram’s birthplace
spoonful of soil from twice a month. In 2002, in the month of February,
Ayodhya. But with that, Muslim mob burns bogie no S6 of Sabarmati

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RESEARCH ARTICLE
express where kar sevaks are present. Fifty-nine people of different castes and religions live together
Hindu people roast like coal. Bittoo mama loses his but do not support love marriages and inter caste
son, Dhiraj. He decides to take revenge of his son’s marriages. Krish and Ananya love each other since
death by killing Muslim and burning their houses. the beginning at IIM-A. They decide to get married
after the placement but the old tradition of marriage
Ali, a Muslim boy, shows patriotism in the in the same caste becomes an obstacle in their
novel. He is a gifted player in cricket. He has the marriage. Krish is from a Punjabi family and
ability to move each ball out of the boundary. Ananya, a Tamilian Brahmin. Punjabi thinks
However, he has a problem that he cannot play more themselves great and so, Krish’s mother does not
than six balls. Ishaan takes him to a doctor and tries give permission to Krish’s marriage. Ananya’s
to fix out the problem. He requests Fred, an family being Brahmin, wants a boy from same
Australian player to test Ali, who later gives these category. Krish accepts job at Chennai, helps
friends an offer of training in Australia. In Australia, Ananya’s father, brother and mother; and convinces
after seeing Ali’s game, chairperson of scholarship them for Ananya’s marriage to him. On the other
department offers him Australian citizenship, which hand, Ananya helps Krish’s relatives and attracts
he denies. He says, “I cannot play for Australia, as I their attention. After mutual understanding, their
am Indian”. Australian tries more to persuade Ali’s parents are ready for Krish and Ananya’s marriage.
mind but fails and wishes that he should play for Complicated love marriage of two lovebirds is
Australia in next life. Ali says, “I don’t want to be described here. On the cover page of the novel,
Australian in my next life. Even if I have a hundred Bhagat writes that in the world, love marriages are
next lives, I want to be Indian in all of them”. simple but in India, boy and girl have to pass
In 2 States, the cultural difference is the through some stages. In India:
main theme. The novel is semi-autobiographical in Boy loves girl. Girl loves boy.
nature. It consists of Bhagat’s experiences of his life,
particularly the marriage with his wife, Anusha. The Girl’s family has to love boy.
novel deals with the struggle between Punjabi and
Tamlian family in getting their children married. It Boy’s family has to love girl.
is written with post-colonial point of view. In the Girl’s family has to love boy’s family.
novel, Chetan Bhagat writes on educational survey
of IIM-Ahmedabad and cultural differences between Boy’s family has to love girl’s family.
two Indian states. Love story between Krish and
Girl and boy still love each other.
Ananya is introduced in the opening pages of the
novel. Krish is a protagonist of the novel. He is a They get married.
student of IIM-Ahmedabad. He first meets Ananya,
a beautiful and clever student, in the college mess Chetan Bhagat, in the novel describes about
where she fights with mess worker over the bad the social evil, dowry. The demand by groom’s
quality of food being served to the students. Krish parents and pitiful condition of bride’s parents are
helps her and becomes her friend. Their friendship depicted here in a proper way. Bhagat in his earlier
turns into love, which later forces them for sex. novels also threw a light on social evils. In Five
Both, Krish and Ananya before leaving the college, Point Someone, Alok’s parents live stressful life as
decide to get married after getting approval from their only daughter cannot get married due to their
their respective parents. poor condition, in One Night @ the Call Center,
Priyanka fights against an old woman who curses
National integration is one of the major her daughter-in-law for not bringing enough dowry
themes in the novel. India is a large country where and giving birth to girls. In the same way, Krish’s

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RESEARCH ARTICLE
relative and Minti’s father, Rajji mama fights with characters are from metropolitan cities but they
Duke’s parent on the matter of dowry. Rajji mama represent the youngsters of India. His first novel
promised them of Hyundai Accent but gives Five Point Someone, is set at IIT Delhi, the second,
Hyundai Santro. He puts “His turban at Duke’s One Night @ the Call Center at Gurgaon, Delhi, The
parents’ feet. They ignored him. He offered a third, The 3 Mistakes of My Life at Ahmedabad, the
cheque, Duke’s parents refused it”. One of the fourth, 2 States is at Delhi and Chennai and all these
important functions in the life of Indian people can novels are based on the life of students and
get disturbed only because of dowry. Dowry makes youngsters. Indian parents are more interested in
poor unhappy and insulted. Krish’s “mother and her their children’s coaching classes. Students think the
two brothers folded their hands in front of Duke’s coaching classes increase their chances of getting
parents. Like a landless farmer, they waited for the selected in the exams. Manju, Ananya’s young
feudal lords to respond”. Groom’s father decides not brother, prepares for IIT entrance and takes Krish’s
to start marriage ceremony unless he gets an help for his study.
assurance of Hyundai Accent.
The thematic study of 2 States indicates
The relationship between mother and Chetan Bhagat’s search for Indian’s importance to
daughter-in-law in the novel is not new to the religious culture and old tradition. It would be
readers, as Bhagat already describes it in his earlier hyperbolic to say that Chetan Bhagat in the novel
novels. Krish’s mother lives in high status as her son has advised Indian people not to stick to old
did MBA from one of the India’s prestigious traditions. But it would be more appropriate to say
colleges. Besides, she always thinks herself superior that he has tried to create awareness among Indian
to Ananya’s parents and advises Krish to stay away readers about not to give importance to dowry
from them. She says, “South Indians don’t know system and encourages them for inter caste and inter
how to control their daughters. From Hema Malini religious marriages in India. Presentation of
to Sridevi, all of them trying to catch Punjabi men”. characters, time and place propels the readers to
Though krish’s mother opposes Rajji mama from imagine the situations. Each one in India is familiar
giving dowry to Duke’s parent in reality, she is in its with the situations like mother-father, and in-laws
favour. She shows Krish a girl from a rich family and daughter-in-law’s conflicts. The thematic
which has six cars and two petrol pumps. She gives originality and complexity create interest among the
him an example of herself who is unhappy by readers and keep their attention up to the last line of
marring to government servant and on the other the novel. Problems in inter caste marriage and the
hand, she talks about Shipra masi who is happy after concept of ‘live-in-relationship’ compel readers to
being married to a businessman. In North India, read this novel. Chetan Bhagat in 2 States has
boy’s family members get lots of respect so Krish’s universalized the specific through the concept of
mother demands the same from Ananya’s family. In love marriage in India.
Goa, she becomes furious, when she does not get
respect from Ananya’s family. To keep his mother’s The novel tells a story of ‘cross-culture’.
heart, Krish says, “Mom, she (Ananya) is here with Krish and Ananya represent two castes in Indian
her parents. But I am marrying only her; once she society. It is not a skin color, which becomes an
comes to our house, we can control her. You only obstacle in their marriage but it is a caste and
say, no, that South Indians are docile and scared”. culture, which shorten the thinking power of typical
Indians. Bhagat does not make comment on any
Bhagat’s novels are based on the life and particular society. Punjabi people call themselves
culture of metropolitan cities. Bhagat for education superior but Tamilians are not less than they are.
lived in Delhi and Ahmedabad. He is familiar with Krish’s mother and her relatives want Krish to marry
the places and culture of these cities. However, his the girl of same caste but Krish decides to marry
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Ananya. Sense of hatred for South Indians by North if he gives her chicken. She says, “You will feed me
Indians is told here through the character of Shipra chicken? I’m dying to have non-veg and get beer
masi and Krish’s mother. Shipra masi tries to change too”.
the mind of Krish by luring him. She asks him,
‘How much will that Madrasin earn?’ On the other Backing to nearer relatives and friends in
hand Tamilian calls North Indians rascal and ill politics and service is not new in India. Chetan
mannered. Bhagat discloses this truth through the novel. Krish
is the only North Indian at City bank Chennai. Bala,
2 States deals with not only about cultural the manager does mistake by investing customers’
clashes among the Indians but also the solutions of money in share market. Unluckily share market
the problems. Chetan Bhagat gives different collapses and money loses. Bala asks Krish to take
examples of it. For example, Krish spends some blame as the country manager belongs to North
time in Aurobindo Ashram where he tells guruji his India. Anil Mathur, a country manager does not take
problem in getting married to Ananya. Guruji with any action against Krish when he comes to know
his power finds the Krish’s conflict with his father Krish is a North Indian, and suggests him not to do
and asks him why he gets problem in sleeping at mistakes in future. 2 States is a contrast of culture of
night. Krish tells him how his father used to beat his North and South India. It is the cordial connections
mother and him. Guruji guides Krish and tells him to between two families that make the book stand out.
apply a word, ‘forgiveness’ in life. He says: It is written from a perspective completely different
from his earlier novels. Bhagat to get married to his
I’ll give you one word to wife, Anusha follows their customs and to impress
apply in life, i.e. forgiveness her family members he dedicates this novel to his in-
… For you forgiving laws. Bhagat is well known with the rituals of Tamil
doesn’t make the person as his wife is from there.
who hurt you feel better, it
makes you feel better. (2S, It is understood that there is a tug of war
199) between two cultures. Bhagat here just reveals out
the obstacles and differences in their thinking. He
This shows that the novelist not merely does not favour his own state or caste and hates
reports the cultural and social conflicts but also others but instead he tells the drawbacks of Indian
gives the solutions. The novelist tries to solve the society and narrow mind of Indian people while
problems of day-by-day life. Guruji tells Krish that getting married their children. Krish argues with his
forgiveness is very important in life if one wants to mother on the topic of marriage with Ananya. He
live stress less life. The word ‘forgiveness’ is such a says to her, “Aren’t they all Indian? Can’t they be
weapon that calms the enemy also. He tells Krish good human beings?” Bhagat wants to give a
about the Bhagavad-Gita. According to it he message of equality to Indians. He says all Indians
suggests him “To work hard and not to worry about should be treated as Indians and not as a state wise
the rewards”. Bhagat, in the novel, depicts one of the with different cultures and castes.
controversial episodes about the Brahmin
community. The Brahmin worships cow, never Chetan Bhagat very well understands that
touches meat and beer. Ananya is from pure this is the twenty first century and the methods and
orthodox Tamilian Brahmin family. Effects of manners of the show are quite different. The novel is
modern world fall on her. Whenever she gets a written by considering the problems of this century.
chance of eating at restaurant, she eats chicken and Indirectly, Chetan Bhagat gives a message to Indian
drinks beer. She is a habitual of eating non-veg. people to change their attitude of looking at old
Ananya in Chennai is ready to come at krish’s room traditions and try to eradicate the social evils from

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RESEARCH ARTICLE
society. Besides, Bhagat also uses telephone, which in making the reader happy. New readers who don’t
plays an important role in the characters’ life. know the literary language can also enjoy the
Readers in the beginning understand Krish’s hatred writing style of Chetan Bhagat. The author has
for his father. It is the phone, which creates fear of succeeded here in describing all the things in
beating to his mother by his father in Krish’s mind if beautiful manner. He has also succeeded in keeping
he avoids talking with his father on telephone. And, the readers stick to novel up to at the end.
it is the same telephone which brings happiness in
the life of Krish by giving him the good news that REFERENCES
Ananya’s parents are ready for Ananya and his
marriage. [1]Bhagat, Chetan. The 3 Mistakes of My Life’.
Delhi: Rupa and Co, 2008
Social aspects of Indian society are Chetan [2]Bhagat, Chetan. 2 States. New Delhi: Rupa & Co,
Bhagat’s main concern in his novels. Like his other 2009
novels, in 2 States, too, Bhagat invoices existing [3]Bhagat, Chetan. What young India Wants. Delhi :
social evils because the writer is of view to change Rupa & Co, 2011
it. Minor characters disappear once they complete [4]Bhagat, Chetan. India Positive: New Essays and
their role but the major characters from both the Selected Coolum.
families remain on the pages and do not disappear Westland Publishing, 2019
up to the end of the novel and bring unity to place [5]Ulka Anjaria, A History of the Indian Novel in
and time. English (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press, 2014
CONCLUSION [6]Greenlees, Donald. Investment Banker Becomes
Thus, Chetan Bhagat in his novels, The 3 Best-Selling Author in India, New
Mistakes of My Life and 2 States has tried to present York Times, and March 14, 2008.
the different major themes. Chetan Bhagat has tried Available online
to cover all the themes related with the society. The [7]Tandon, Suneera. Q&A With Chetan Bhagat,
main characters like Govind, Vidya, Krish and Quartz India, October 12, 2016
Ananya represent the characters which we can find [8]Chaudhuri, Amit. Clearing a Space: Reflections
in our society. All the themes are described in on India, Literature, and Modernity
beautiful and realistic manners. Bhagat is successful (New York: Peter Lang, 2008)

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SP Publications

International Journal Of English and Studies (IJOES)

Major Themes in Chetan Bhagat's ‘The 3

ISSN: 2581-8333 Copyright © 2021 SP Publications Page 86

ISSN: 2581-8333 Copyright © 2021 SP Publications Page 87

ISSN: 2581-8333 Copyright © 2021 SP Publications Page 89

ISSN: 2581-8333 Copyright © 2021 SP Publications Page 90

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